Wakeful Nights

IN thy name, O Jesu
Who wast crucified,
I lie down to rest.
Watch thou me
in sleep remote,
hold thou me
in thy one hand;
Watch thou me
in sleep remote,
hold thou me
in thy one hand.

Celtic prayer

Sleep has been interrupted for the past few nights. I find myself awake for periods of time. I am not uncomfortable, not worried, simply alert in the soft and silent darkness. These have become times of prayer for me; for family, for many people in the parish who are also dancing with cancer, for the whole congregation of the First Congregational UCC of Bellingham, Woodland Hills Community UCC, and the small company of folks who sustained La Mesa Community UCC in Santa Barbara until it was closed last Memorial Day, and finally the wonderful cloud of witnesses who have contributed to the blog.

That process frequently merges into a period of sleep. But there will be other occasions of wakefulness. These become times of thanksgiving. Sometimes they are undergirded with the ancient Jesus prayer used as a breath prayer. (Inhale) Lord, Jesus Christ, Savior, (exhale) have mercy upon me a sinner. It is not that I am feeling especially sinful these days, but there is comfort in a mystical tradition that has sustained so many of the faithful over many centuries.

The Celtic tradition has also spoken to my spirit with comfort and assurance. The simple prayer at the beginning of this note has a curious form: Watch thou me in sleep remote, hold thou me in thy one hand.

I wonder what sleep remote means, and yet, what comfort it is to know that Christ needs only one hand to hold me safely through the night. Certainly the other hand is available for you or whomever might need that healing touch.

I have spoken of feeling buoyed by the Spirit. I also cherish the thought of being supported by the Creator's everlasting arms, and now by the gentle touch of Christ in sleep or wakefulness.